Request by the Heel Republic to the Technocrats of Dunwik

In far less time than would be expected, a delegation would arrive at the Heel's Spike. A dreadnought and two pre-dreadnoughts would act solely as conveyance for a grey haired, square jawed man in a dark suit, with all the buttons on his clothes made in the shape of gears. This man carries a large briefcase, but searches of it would turn up no weapons. Once he had explained that he was none other than Howard Philips Nelson himself, here to conduct negotiations with King Tomor Inferno, he was given his due process.

The Grand Chairman would approach the King, but make no gesture of servitude, simply handing him back his short missive.

"King Inferno, if you would please elaborate on what the nature of our deal would be, you have my time," the Grand Chairman says, putting the briefcase on the table, "could I interest you in a cigar? Wine? Cocaine?" He offers, opening the suitcase and revealing a luxurious stash of the aforementioned drugs.

The Grand Chairman does not take the offered cider, instead taking the bottle of fine wine out of the suitcase, alongside two crystal glasses. He pours two drinks expertly, then recorks the bottle and puts it back in its place, leaving a cigar on the table for the King to enjoy if he wished. Howard Philips Nelson's face is an unreadable mask, as he remains standing.

"And what do you offer in exchange for our technologies, King Tomor?"

"What minerals, and in what supply, for what technologies?" The Grand Chairman asks, before looking over. "As it is, rite of passage through the Strait of Dragkona would not render our vessels immune from the taxes of The Union Of Drusskia and we have no need to go through that territory - our ships have the range to simply sail around the continent."

Nelson blinks "so, in essence, you have only provided me the nebulous request of technology in exchange for the nebulous offer of materials, and said that you would support a proposal it was already in your interest to support, and offered us access to a trade route we do not need. King Inferno, we are both, I believe, busy men. While I would be amenable to entering a trade agreement with you - provided of course that such an agreement did not enter my Technocracy into a dangerous web of alliances on this cramped continent - I am not willing to waste time. Have you specific requests for any materials? Tin? Rubber? Cocaine? Morphine? Train engines, ships of war? Do you want our experts in schools? Our advisors in your laboratories? And what will be offered, to us, in exchange for this gift?"

The Grand Chairman thinks for a moment, sitting back and taking a sip of his wine as he mulls over the offer. After a while, he pauses.

"We will accept your offer to an extent. If you give our mining companies freedom to establish operations within your territory and immunity to export tariff, with these mines operating under Technocratic law, then we will take as we need, and in exchange we will send engineers and scientists over to determine how to best utilize the volcanic activity within your lands for the betterment of man and the development of further infrastructure - provided again that such manufactories or generators are owned and run solely by men of Dunwik and given funds to continue their operations. The negotiations over the sale of our obsolete fleet are to be done at a later date - if we make too large an agreement here, we could potentially have a power bloc form against us."

The High Chairman proceeds to produce a pen from his pocket, and a sheaf of paper, writing out the terms, before handing the pen over to the King.

"Sign there, there, and there, and the Technocracy shall conduct its business, good King."

The Grand Chairman takes another sip. "Under your law, we cannot provide your people as much labor as under our law, and if those tariffs are not lessened then there will be little incentive for my mining corporations to invest in your mines, as the necessary shipment costs and tariff costs would make such investment unwise to them. In order for us to work your lands, provide your people the labor they need, and to receive our payment, the benefits must outweigh the benefits of continuing to work our own native lands. If you were to allow us to ship our product on your craft, without charge, then I will rewrite the contract as outlined by you. Namely, that our experts will develop, construct, own, and operate a mechanism of converting the power of your volcanoes into electricity, and that our mining corporations will also work your lands, provided that our export tariffs are reduced by no less than twenty percent and that all shipment of product to our own lands is done at your expense. In exchange you will receive electricity, education, and labor for your people."

"A reduction of export tariff by ninety percent and half-off on all shipping are reasonable terms, good King Inferno. It was a pleasure doing business with you," The Grand Chairman says, tearing up the old contract and writing a new one, "if you would be so kind as to sign, I will begin such operations posthaste."